Satellite images have spotted the Iranian ‘mothership’ linked to the mysterious drones in New Jersey.
The drone carrier Shahid Bagheri was last seen at its berth at the Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex on November 12, but a photo taken 18 days later showed the docking station empty.
That was around the same time that New Jersey police were inundated with sightings of airborne drones flying in clusters and behaving strangely.
New Jersey Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew claimed this week that there was “circumstantial evidence” that the Iranian ship released the drones from the US east coast.
Van Drew said Iran has made a deal with China “to purchase drones, a mothership and other technologies” for the drone attack on the US, a theory the Pentagon has rejected.
Drew doubled down on his claims Thursday, saying “credible individuals with security clearances….” I believe there is a real possibility that it could be Iran.”
He also argued that the US is not being told the truth and that the American public is being treated as “stupid.”
The 250-meter-long Shahid Bagheri has since been spotted on satellite in the open waters of the Persian Gulf. It would take about 13 days for the ship to travel from Iran to the US east coast.
The drone ship Shahid Bagheri was last seen at its berth at the Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex on November 12, but a photo taken 18 days later showed the station empty
The militarized freighter is reportedly carrying out its mission first sea trials since leaving the nearby Iran Shipyard and Offshore Industries (ISOICO) shipyard.
Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said: “There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and no so-called ‘mother ship’ launching drones toward the United States,” said Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh. the Pentagon.
She reiterated that the Pentagon does not believe the drones come from a foreign adversary, but also stated that they are not U.S. military drones.
According to eyewitnesses, numerous ‘SUV-sized’ vehicles have cropped up in the state since mid-November. Sometimes they appear in groups and often stay in the same place for hours.
The first sightings took place over the US military’s Picatinny Arsenal and newly elected President Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, raising concerns that the drones were part of a spying campaign.
Shahid Bagheri was spotted on December 12 in open waters near two Iranian naval vessels: Shahid Roudaki and Shahid Mahdavi.
Shahid Roudaki was a merchant ship repurposed for military use. It can carry drones, helicopters and rocket launchers.
Shahid Bagheri was spotted in the open waters on December 12
The aircraft carrier (bottom left) was depicted in formation with two Iranian naval vessels: Shahid Roudaki (top right) and Shahid Mahdavi (bottom right)
And Shahid Mahdavi, developed in 2023, is “designed for long-range operations and equipped with missiles, air defense systems and advanced radar technology.”
Pressed Thursday about Van Drew’s claim, White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby responded to the drones not foreign, and they may not even be drones.
“We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a threat to national security or public safety, or have any foreign connection,” Kirby told reporters Thursday.
The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI reiterated Kirby’s statements in a joint news release Thursday, saying there is no threat to national security.
“We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a threat to national security or public safety, or have any foreign link,” the statement read.
Shahid Roudaki can carry drones, helicopters and rocket launchers
Developed in 2023, Shahid Mahdavi is ‘designed for long-range operations and is equipped with missiles, air defense systems and advanced radar technology’
But New Jersey State Representative Paul Kanitra (R) questioned this.
“That goes directly against what the federal Department of Homeland Security told us at the briefing on Wednesday,” Kanitra said. I couldn’t possibly understand what their motivation is for trying to reduce this.”
New Jersey Assembly member Brian Bergen (R) also responded to Kirby’s claims.
“That guy is an idiot. I can tell you that now,” Bergen, a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot, said in an interview on Fox News Thursday evening.